Leading
the world in all the wrong ways
The latest numbers are in, with researchers comparing death and disease rates in 17 of the world's wealthiest nations. And the United States came in…. last.
What?
The latest numbers are in, with researchers comparing death and disease rates in 17 of the world's wealthiest nations. And the United States came in…. last.
What?
That's right... dead last in life expectancy for men, who live 3.7 fewer years than Swiss men. And second-to-last for women, who fall short by five years when compared to the Japanese.
On the other hand, we outlast the Danes by a couple of months, so that's something, right?
All told, we're behind nations such as Sweden, Australia, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and more. Heck, even Canadians can expect to live about three years longer than the average American.
It's not just life expectancy where we fall short. We're behind at every stage of life. American babies are more likely to die before their first birthday. Our children are more likely to die -- or get killed -- before the age of 5. We even have the lowest odds of making it to 50 of any nation in the study.
Why?
We're also last or near last in nearly every major health category. Americans are fatter, sicker, and more likely to get everything from STDs to parasites.
We've got among the highest levels of obesity and diabetes, making Americans 155 percent more likely to die of heart disease than everyone else. We're so far ahead in heart disease that it’s not even a competition.
So what you can do about it? Not much... when it comes to the nation in general. Most of your neighbors are pretty much doomed. But you can save yourself and your loved ones, and all you have to do is the opposite of what everyone else is doing.
My Comment:
Without
dwelling on the obvious steps like changing your eating habits to avoid
processed food and sugar and other carbohydrates, the first thing everyone
should be doing is taking high quality nutritional supplements to provide you
with the missing nutrients in the American diet. I highly recommend Cardio-Plus (heart and
circulation) and Catalyn (multi vitamin) by Standard Process. These are “whole
food” vitamins sold mostly to doctors that are used much more efficiently by
the body. The addition of Vitamin D (4,000-8,000 IU) and a high quality Fish or
Krill oil round out the 4 basic supplements that everyone who cares about their
health should be taking daily. Of course there are other supplements that can
be extremely helpful for specific needs, but these 4 are the minimum you should
be taking for good health.
The Redemption of the Egg
By Dr. David
Williams
Slowly, it seems the public is beginning to understand the value of including
whole eggs in the diet.
On this topic, I sometimes think the
public is more informed than most doctors. It has taken decades to reverse
the erroneous idea that eggs are nothing more than artery-clogging,
cholesterol-loaded grenades. However, even the more open-minded cardiologists
still recommend eating yolk-free egg substitutes rather than whole eggs. And,
you'll find egg white and yolk substitutes instead of whole eggs under
the "heart healthy" sections of most restaurant menus.
One large egg contains about 180 mg of cholesterol—all in the yolk. But there
have never been any studies showing
that eating eggs or egg yolks increase
harmful levels of cholesterol or your
risk of heart disease. In fact, studies show just the opposite.
One recent 12-week study involved 37 men and women
ages 30-70. While following a moderately carbohydrate-restricted diet (limited to 25 percent
carbs), individuals in one group ate three whole eggs per day, while those in the other group ate the
equivalent amount of yolk-free egg substitute (about Vz cup).
Each daily serving of whole eggs contained 534
mg of cholesterol, 0 grams of carbs, 16 grams of protein, and 12
grams of fat, for a total of 186 calories. The daily serving of egg
substitute contained 0 mg of cholesterol, 2 grams of carbs, 14 grams of
proteins, and 0 grams of fat, for a total of 60 calories.
At the end of the study, both groups lost a little weight. The LDL ("bad") cholesterol didn't change in either group. The HDL ("good") cholesterol increased 10 percent in the
group eating yolk-free egg substitutes, and
16 percent in the group eating whole eggs.
Triglycerides dropped 20 percent and insulin levels
dropped 15 percent in the yolk-free egg substitute group, but in the whole egg
group, triglycerides dropped 30 percent and insulin levels dropped 20 percent.
In every case, eating the whole eggs proved to be a
better way to
go. (Metabolism Clinical and Experimental
online 28 Sept 2012, doi:10.1016/j.
metabol. 2012.08.014)
Other Healthy Components of Eggs
Researchers are now acknowledging that the
lecithin in egg yolks helps move cholesterol to the liver instead of letting it
build up in the arteries.
Decades ago, I had the opportunity
of communicating on numerous occasions
with the chemist Jacobus Rinse. Dr.
Rinse developed what he called "The Dr. Rinse Breakfast," and one of the major components was lecithin granules. Dr. Rinse felt that the "melting point" of cholesterol could be reduced to less than body
temperature when lecithin is consumed with the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic.
I've talked about both of these beneficial fatty
acids many times in the past. The two groups of people with the lowest
incidence of heart disease in the world are the Cretans from the Eastern
Mediterranean island
of Crete, and the Japanese from Kohama Island. Both have a high dietary intake
of these fatty acids. The Cretans get theirs from walnuts and purslane,
and the Japanese
primarily from soybean products. (Other food sources include eggs, green leafy vegetables, and many seeds and nuts and their oils,
including flax, hemp, pumpkin, sunflower,
sesame, olives, black current,
primrose, grape seed, pine nuts,
pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts, and
almonds.)
Lecithin
itself is found naturally in beef liver and
eggs, both of which have fallen out
of favor because of the anti-cholesterol, anti-fat craze. It's one of the
reasons I've always added lecithin
granules to my morning protein
shakes. (Hopefully you're doing that, as well.)
Everyone also seems to overlook the fact that eggs are an
excellent source
of the carotenoids beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Higher levels of these
carotenoids have been shown to reduce inflammation and lower the risk of
cardiovascular disease, some cancers,
and type 2 diabetes. These same researchers found that eating three whole eggs a day very significantly increased blood
levels of all three of these carotenoids,
while only beta carotene was
increased in those eating yolk-free
egg substitute: (Food Fund ' 2012 Nov 5. [Epub ahead of print])
Forget the yolk-free egg substitutes. You're wasting
your money and
jeopardizing your health. Stick with whole eggs. The yolk is good for you!
If you're avoiding whole eggs because you want to
prevent heart
disease, you're doing just the opposite of what you should be doing. Eat eggs
and enjoy them!
And
if you have access to free-range eggs, then by all means eat those. When it comes to
taste and quality, there's no comparison.
Vitamin K intake cuts risk of diabetes
in the elderly by 50 percent
(NaturalNews) New cases of diabetes
continue to increase exponentially every five to ten years. The toll this
disease takes on millions of unsuspecting children and adults places the illness
in a class by itself as it is the primary cause of death from diabetes and
cardiovascular disease. Excess glucose in circulation slowly damages virtually
every cell and molecular structure in our body as it makes critical proteins,
enzymes and fats dysfunctional and significantly increases the risk of arterial
plaque development.
Fortunately, there are a handful of natural compounds that help negate the deadly effects of excess sugar. Vitamin K is one such agent, as it is shown to lower the risk of developing diabetes in an elderly cohort by more than 50 percent. Researchers publishing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have determined that individuals with the highest circulating levels of vitamin K1 have a total diabetes risk reduction of 51 percent as compared to those with the lowest levels.
Fortunately, there are a handful of natural compounds that help negate the deadly effects of excess sugar. Vitamin K is one such agent, as it is shown to lower the risk of developing diabetes in an elderly cohort by more than 50 percent. Researchers publishing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have determined that individuals with the highest circulating levels of vitamin K1 have a total diabetes risk reduction of 51 percent as compared to those with the lowest levels.
Vitamin K promotes the removal of calcium from the
blood to prevent heart disease and diabetes
A team of Spanish scientists noted "The results of
this study show that dietary phylloquinone intake is associated with reduced
risk of type-2 diabetes, which extends the potential roles of vitamin K in
human health." The researchers noted that vitamin K deficiencies are
prevalent in western diets due to a lack of leafy green vegetables such as
lettuce, spinach, and broccoli that provide vitamin K1, the most common isomer
of the vitamin. Vitamin K2 (from fermented foods and natto) is much less common
in the typical diet and can be synthesized in the gut by microflora.
Researchers reviewed data on 1,069 men and women with an average age of 67 that were part of the Prevention with the Mediterranean Diet trial in Spain. None of the participants had diabetes at the start of the study. 131 had developed the disease after five and a half years. The team determined that those with the highest levels of vitamin K1 at the study's outset experienced the lowest risk for developing Type II diabetes.
The team concluded "An increase in the amount of phylloquinone intake during the follow-up was associated with a 51 percent lower risk of diabetes in elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk after a median follow-up of 5.5 years." Though still to be determined, the researchers postulated that the risk reduction was due in large part to the metabolism of osteocalcin, a protein involved in bone mineralization and moving calcium from the blood into the bone. Nutrition experts recommend supplementing with a full spectrum form of vitamin K (1000 to 2200 mcg per day) to prevent diabetes and heart disease as we age.
Researchers reviewed data on 1,069 men and women with an average age of 67 that were part of the Prevention with the Mediterranean Diet trial in Spain. None of the participants had diabetes at the start of the study. 131 had developed the disease after five and a half years. The team determined that those with the highest levels of vitamin K1 at the study's outset experienced the lowest risk for developing Type II diabetes.
The team concluded "An increase in the amount of phylloquinone intake during the follow-up was associated with a 51 percent lower risk of diabetes in elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk after a median follow-up of 5.5 years." Though still to be determined, the researchers postulated that the risk reduction was due in large part to the metabolism of osteocalcin, a protein involved in bone mineralization and moving calcium from the blood into the bone. Nutrition experts recommend supplementing with a full spectrum form of vitamin K (1000 to 2200 mcg per day) to prevent diabetes and heart disease as we age.
Daily soft drink serving boosts
aggressive prostate cancer risk by 40 percent
(NaturalNews) Nearly one-quarter of a million men will be diagnosed with some stage of prostate cancer this year in the U.S., and many will suffer the unnecessary consequences of invasive treatment techniques that cut, irradiate and poison tumor cells in an effort to control the illness. In a manner similar to many other types of cancer, prostate cancer incidence is closely related to dietary and lifestyle practices over the course of many years and decades of life. New research pending publication in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that fast-releasing carbohydrates and sugary drinks dramatically increases risk of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
A study team from the University of Lund in Sweden determined that men who drink one normal-sized soft drink per day are at a greater risk of getting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
(NaturalNews) Nearly one-quarter of a million men will be diagnosed with some stage of prostate cancer this year in the U.S., and many will suffer the unnecessary consequences of invasive treatment techniques that cut, irradiate and poison tumor cells in an effort to control the illness. In a manner similar to many other types of cancer, prostate cancer incidence is closely related to dietary and lifestyle practices over the course of many years and decades of life. New research pending publication in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that fast-releasing carbohydrates and sugary drinks dramatically increases risk of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
A study team from the University of Lund in Sweden determined that men who drink one normal-sized soft drink per day are at a greater risk of getting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Lead researcher, Dr. Isabel Drake commented "Among
the men who drank a lot of soft drinks or other drinks with added sugar, we saw
an increased risk of prostate cancer of around 40 percent." Those who
drank one 330-millilitre (11-fluid-ounce) soft drink a day were 40 percent more
likely to develop more serious forms of prostate cancer that required
treatment.
Sugary soft drinks and processed carbohydrates raise
insulin secretion and increase cancer risk
Researchers followed over 8,000 men between the ages of 45
and 73 for an average of 15 years. They found that men who ate a diet heavy in
carbohydrates, including wheat, rice and pasta, increased their risk of developing
milder forms of prostate
cancer, typically requiring no treatment,
by 31 percent. Men who ate a lot of sugary breakfast cereals were 38 percent
more likely to develop milder forms of the cancer.
As a disturbing side note, scientists found that the risk applied not to early-stage disease that was spotted via blood tests, but to cancers that had progressed enough to cause symptoms. This is significant, as faster-growing forms of prostate cancer are more likely to be fatal. The study authors believe that sugar triggers the release of the hormone insulin, which feeds tumors.
In the past, many research studies have linked soft drink or soda intake to osteoarthritis as well as an 80 percent increased risk of stroke in women. Unfortunately, this study did not include diet drinks, and tea and coffee with sugar, as phosphoric acid and caramel coloring from soft drinks has been implicated in cancer development and progression. Health-minded individuals will limit refined carbohydrates (including 'heart-healthy' whole grains), sugars and carbonated beverages of all types to significantly lower the risk of prostate cancer and most chronic illnesses.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
As a disturbing side note, scientists found that the risk applied not to early-stage disease that was spotted via blood tests, but to cancers that had progressed enough to cause symptoms. This is significant, as faster-growing forms of prostate cancer are more likely to be fatal. The study authors believe that sugar triggers the release of the hormone insulin, which feeds tumors.
In the past, many research studies have linked soft drink or soda intake to osteoarthritis as well as an 80 percent increased risk of stroke in women. Unfortunately, this study did not include diet drinks, and tea and coffee with sugar, as phosphoric acid and caramel coloring from soft drinks has been implicated in cancer development and progression. Health-minded individuals will limit refined carbohydrates (including 'heart-healthy' whole grains), sugars and carbonated beverages of all types to significantly lower the risk of prostate cancer and most chronic illnesses.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for
educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical
care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or
suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician
(preferably a Naturopath).
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